A number of civic and community groups said Sunday they plan to protest the visit of the director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), Zhang Zhijun, to Taiwan on a four-day trip beginning Tuesday, June 24. Secretary-General Tung Chien-hung of the Taiwan Democratic Front says his group will take the opportunity to stand up in protest of Zhang’s visit, adding that several other local community groups will also take time to show up in places where Zhang is expected

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In a joint press conference held Sunday, Chang Yen-hsien, president of the Taiwan Society, appeared along with Chang Chieh-sen, president of the Taiwan Northern Society, and Tung Chien-hung, urging the public to recognize that the purpose of Zhang’s trip to Taiwan this week is purely political.

Chang Chieh-sen said that if DPP Chairman Tsai Ing-wen plans to meet Zhang while he is in Taiwan he has no objection, but reminded Tsai that any such meeting must be held on the basis of equality, with all appropriate dignity and principle.

Chang Shun-fa, the Vice President of the Taiwan Society, noted that Zhang will meet Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu during his visit. He personally appealed to Mayor Chen to grill Zhang on why China has failed to come through on so many of the promises that it has made to Hong Kong over the years. Deng Xiaoping once said that Hong Kong will be allowed to maintain its current status for 50 years, including things like horse racing and dancing. Chang said Chen Chu must make it very clear to Zhang that Taiwan is an independent country and plans to keep it that way.

Chang also noted that the people in his and other groups intend to make it very obvious to Zhang Zhijun that Kaohsiung, the Taiwan Society, the Taiwan South Society and other local community organizations stand hand in hand on this matter and will be monitoring Zhang’s trip every step of the way.